Kalanchoe plant named Granada

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named Granada characterized by its deep coral immature and pink mature flower color, compact habit, highly floriferous habit, free branching, average 13-week flowering response, and its adaptability to production in 10-15 cm. pots.

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive cultivar of Kalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe, and referred to by the cultivar name Granada.

The new cultivar was referred to during the selection process by the designation (Gelbe Melody-1- 2 × Swiss Rose-9-6-4-5-1-2)-2-9, and is a product of a planned breeding program. Granada was later recoded KLV80-48P when received by Pan American Plant Company, West Chicago, Ill, in 1980. The basic objective of the breeding program was to create a new Kalanchoe cultivar having pink flower color, compact habit, and the ability to produce commercially acceptable quality in a year-round kalanchoe program.

The new cultivar was originated from a self-pollination of (Gelbe Melody-1-2 × Swiss Rose-9-6-4-5-1-2)-2 made in a controlled breeding program at Linda vista, S.A. Cartago, Costa Rica.

Granada was discovered and selected by me as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated self in a field of seedlings in Cartago, Costa Rica. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by stem cuttings, as first performed by me at Cartago, Costa Rica, and subsequently performed at West Chicago, Ill. and Parrish, Fla. has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Granada has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. The following observations, measurements and values describe the new cultivar as grown in Parrish, Fla., under greenhouse conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Granada, which in combination distinguish this Kalanchoe as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Medium pink flower color, with immature flowers being deep coral.

2. Compact habit; average growth rate as compared to other cultivars.

3. Freely branching, with shoots formed at most every node.

4. Suitable for production in 10 to 15 cm. pots.

5. Flowers from 14 weeks in summer to 12 weeks in winter.

6. Highly floriferous, with numerous flowers formed at every shoot.

7. To reduce peduncle elongation after flower initiation plants can be treated with B-9.

The new cultivar is most similar to Sensation, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,727. Granada is principally distinguished from Sensation by its paler pink flower color, its faster growth rate, and its lighter green foliage.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows a typical specimen plant of the new cultivar. The colors appearing in the photograph are as true as possible with color illustrations of this type.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), except where general colors of ordinary significance are referred to. Color values are taken under natural light conditions at approximately 3:30 P.M. under 2000 foot candles of light intensity in Parrish, Fla.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Kalanchoe, cv. Granda

PARENTAGE

Self-pollination of (Gelbe Melody-1-2 × Swiss Rose-9-6-4-5-1-2)-2.

PROPAGATION

The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristics through successive propagations by leaf cuttings and by division of shoots.

Type cutting: Tip cuttings, with stems up to 2 cm. long.

Time to root: 10 Days at 21° C. summer, 14 days at 21° C. winter.

Rooting habit: Fibrous, many very fine roots.

PLANT DESCRIPTION

Form: Upright, medium height; compact growing and scheduling practices can produce small plants in 10 cm. pots or larger plants in 15 cm. pots.

Habit of growth: Average growth rate for this type of plant; shoots are normally formed at every node.

Foliage description: Leaves opposite and alternate, generally symmetrical; color is lighter green than most Kalanchoes.

1. Size.--Average full-grown leaf of a flowering plant in a 10 cm. pot is 65-85 mm. wide and 70-90 mm. long. Plants in larger pots have proportionately larger leaves.

2. Shape.--Ovate, apex obtuse, base acute.

3. Texture.--Glabrous, coriaceous, succulent.

4. Color.--Young foliage top side, 137A, under side, 147B. Mature foliage top side 137A, under side 147B.

FLOWERING DESCRIPTION

Flowering habit: Inflorescense of each shoot is formed by dichotomous branching, starting with opening of terminal flowers of main axis followed by terminal flowers of the side branches of the inflorescence; opening of new buds will continue for 2 months or more. Individual flowers last 2 weeks or more after opening.

Natural flowering season is January. Flowering time under controlled day length at 30° C. in summer is 14 weeks; in winter at 20° C., 12 weeks. Flowering time depends on temperature, light intensity and other growing conditions.

Flower buds: Oblong, developing to tubular as petals mature, sheathed for four green sepals. Corolla at maturity about 13 mm. long.

1. Size.--Up to 13 mm. long.

2. Shape.--Oblong.

3. Rate of opening.--Normal.

Flowers borne: Compound dichasial cyme on strong peduncles. Peduncle length depends on growing conditions and B-9 applications. Pedicles up to 5 mm. long.

Quantity of flowers: Very floriferous, with new buds continuing to develop.

Petals:

1. Shape.--Nearly round, apex cuspidate.

2. Color.--Top side when opening, 52C, fading to 55B; under side, 55D.

3. Number and size of petals.--Four to five, united in corolla, 7 mm. in diameter; total flower diameter 16 mm.

Reproductive organs:

1. Stamens.--8 In number. (a) Anther shape: Flat, elliptical. (b) Filament color: Yellow. (c) Pollen color: Yellow.

2. Pistels.--(a) Stigma shape: Flat, crystalline. (b) Style color: Greenish-white. (c) Ovaries: 4 celled, 5 mm. long, green.

DISEASE RESISTANCE

No known Kalanchoe diseases observed to date. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named Granada, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized by its deep coral immature and pink mature flower color, compact habit, highly floriferous habit, free branching, average 13-week flowering response, and its adaptability to production in 10-15 cm. pots. 